Actress Blake Lively Files a Lawsuit Against Justin Baldoni for Sexual Harassment and Defamation
A Hostile Filming Environment
Blake Lively’s lawsuit reveals a general meeting held on January 4, 2024, during which she alleged that Justin Baldoni and Jamey Heath, who is also a producer of the film It Ends With Us—a project that addresses domestic violence—created a hostile work environment. She accused them of inappropriate behavior and sexual harassment. According to her statements, it became impossible for her and the rest of the crew to return to the set until their behavior improved.
Lively’s allegations include several serious claims: Justin Baldoni allegedly improvised kissing scenes without prior consent. Jamey Heath reportedly showed her a nude photo of his wife. Both men allegedly discussed their past struggles with pornography addiction in her presence. Furthermore, Baldoni and Heath are accused of entering her trailer without permission at times when she was changing, nude, or breastfeeding.
Following this meeting, the production company Wayfarer hired an intimacy coordinator for the set, which improved conditions enough for Lively to complete filming.
Blake Lively’s First Sexual Harassment Complaint
During the promotional campaign for It Ends With Us, many fans noticed that the two lead actors, Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, never appeared together.
The scandal erupted when Blake Lively filed a lawsuit against Justin Baldoni, Wayfarer Studios, its CEO Jamey Heath, and other parties, accusing them of orchestrating a defamation campaign and detailing numerous instances of sexual harassment she allegedly experienced during production.
Was Blake Lively Targeted by a Smear Campaign?
After the film’s release, Blake Lively faced criticism for what some claimed was a lack of seriousness regarding the issue of domestic violence, the central theme of the movie. The actress avoided addressing the topic in interviews, drawing numerous negative comments on social media. Meanwhile, Justin Baldoni emphasized the issue prominently in his public statements.
Lively, however, stated that she had strictly followed the promotional plan outlined by the film’s team.
Around the same time, old videos surfaced online showing Lively in situations where she appeared unpleasant. In response, Lively accused the director of It Ends With Us of orchestrating a defamation campaign against her. Her lawsuit also targets producers Jamey Heath and Steve Sarowitz, the Wayfarer Studios team (cofounded by Baldoni), and three publicists.
The day after her lawsuit, The New York Times published an investigation revealing email and text exchanges between publicists hired by Baldoni.
“I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct and helps protect others who may be targeted,” Lively said in a statement.
Justin Baldoni’s Counterattack
In response, Baldoni filed a $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times, accusing the publication of defamation and invasion of privacy, among other claims, for allegedly spreading false information.
“The Times relied almost entirely on Lively’s unverified, self-serving account, repeating it almost verbatim while ignoring abundant evidence that contradicted her claims and exposed her true motivations,” Baldoni’s lawsuit states.
In turn, Lively filed a countersuit, building on her original December complaint, alleging mental anguish and emotional distress.
Lively’s lawyers issued a statement obtained by the New York Post, saying: “Nothing in this lawsuit changes any of the allegations made in Ms. Lively’s complaint with the California Civil Rights Department or her federal lawsuit… We look forward to addressing each of Wayfarer’s claims in court.”